Venues

The Penzance Convention was held at The Exchange in Princes Street, the former telephone exchange in Penzance transformed by MUMA (McInnes, Usher, McKnight Architects) and opened in the summer of 2007.

The keynote was given in Chapel Street Methodist Church, a Grade 2* listed building erected in 1814 and enlarged in 1863. The building retains its original box pews and Georgian plasterwork and can accommodate up to 700 people.

Field trip destinations included Carn Brea, South Crofty Mine, Heartlands, Camborne School of Mines Test Mine, Great Condurrow Mine, King Edward Mine, Camborne School of Mines Extraction Labs at Tremough, Botallack, Rosevale Mine, Lanyon Quoit, Bosigran Farm, Varfell Farm, Canonstown, Gurnard’s Head, Newlyn Fish Auction, Newlyn Seamen’s Mission, Newlyn Old Quay, Penlee Quarry, Penlee Lifeboat Station and Mousehole.

Dinner on Friday was prepared by students on the catering course at Truro and Penwith College and served in the college’s refectory overlooking Mount’s Bay.

Delegates travelled to Tate St Ives to attend the private view of the Alex Katz exhibition.

PZ Gallery in Coinagehall Street, Penzance, provided the venue for a late-night gig by Hedluv + Passman on Friday evening, for lunch on Saturday, prepared by Drift Catering, and for the Convention Bar.

Additional activities were hosted by Cornwall Autonomous Zone (CAZ) in the basement of The Exchange, and at Newlyn Art Gallery on Newlyn Green as part of the national Museums at Night celebrations.

The Convention closed with a visit to Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens.